Frankly, I don't know any of them, at least I think I don't. Perhaps I could have listened to them once, and didn't like them, maybe that's why I don't know them. I'm that type of Prince fan, where I didn't like everything he put out, the songs I liked stayed with me, while others I didn't disappeared.

looby said:

Interesting observation about "Time," especially since Sly has his own track called "Time" (and another, "In Time"). I hear the influence, even though the sound is simultaneously (perhaps paradoxically) much more contemporary.

Otherwise, I don't know late period Prince as well as I should. Holes in my education.

Fiona01 said:

I love each one of these and consider them amongst his best post 90s music, but rarely if ever see them getting any love on the org and was curious how you all felt about the following songs: Ain't About 2 Stop For Me this is his most successful attempt at sounding in touch with contemporary chart music. Great production and hook. U Know Strangely hypnotic and a great flow! What It Feels Like Understated but classy. Soul Sanctuary For ages the vocals put me off this one, especially the verse near the end where he screeches, but it has started opening up to me in a major way recently and I think it could possibly be the prettiest melody he ever wrote. Sex Me, Sex Me Not Nasty Prince - great verses! The Word My favorite on 3121 and one of the few quai-religious songs of his that doesn't come across as patronising. Time One of the most Sly Stone sounding Prince songs he ever recorded. Best song on AOA by a country mile. [Edited 3/29/20 15:19pm]

Ain't About 2 stop. I like the start/intro. Nice instrumentation. The lyrics and vocals are the weaker part of a reasonable song

U Know Like his flow on this song agree with the hypnotic beat. So essentially am in full agreement with you here.

What it feels like Good track. Really highlights Andy Allo. Nice smooth butter track.

Soul Sanctuary. Almost makes my contentious one cd Emancipation disc. Very good track. I enjoy the vocals actually.

Sex me sex me not A solid funky track. Very fun Prince and I like the sound of this.

The Word. A rhythmic track from 3121. Nice parts in the song that intermingle well including an instrumental break.

Time I liked this track first time I heard it. I prefer the aforementioned Sly Stone tracks better, but this is a good track. Nice movement.

Fiona01 said:

I love all these songs!

.

Hey Fiona01 - all of the songs except one are from the 2000s. Why not vote for them in the Peach & Black Podcast's "Top 20 Prince Songs of the 2000s" survey tinyurl.com/top20princesongs2000s

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[Edited 3/30/20 5:46am]

inovio said:

Soul sanctuary is a work of art! The entire emancipation album was life changing.

yesss

inovio said:

Just some thoughts.

You have to look at AOA and Plectrum Electrum together.

AOA - Lovesexy

Plectrum Electrun - The Black Album

U Know who U is don't U?

This is what it feels like. Good use of AA. I like when they say "right here next to me"

Time a running theme throughout Prince music.

I'm running out of patience

I'm running out of lies

I think its about time I tell the truth

Instead of these alibis

See the lyric about taking the 5th forever in Black Muse

Judith Hill album called Back In Time - A coincidence?

I think it's about time I got time alone with U (see the question above)

This could be us comes after Breakfast Can Wait. Why is this song also on Hit and Run Pahse One after he meets Judith Hill?

Fiona01 said:

looby said:

Frankly, I don't know any of them, at least I think I don't. Perhaps I could have listened to them once, and didn't like them, maybe that's why I don't know them. I'm that type of Prince fan, where I didn't like everything he put out, the songs I liked stayed with me, while others I didn't disappeared.

Wow, I couldn't imagine being like that. I know all of his songs inside out, even the ones I don't particularly care for. I'm forever discovering new songs of his that I love which I previously didn't like. [Edited 3/29/20 15:38pm]

Wow, I couldn't imagine being like you, knowing all of his songs inside out, even the ones you don't particularly care for.......the man had a LOT of songs!

inovio said:

Soul sanctuary is a work of art! The entire emancipation album was life changing.

I love it too but it is one song I would delete if I were to trim it down...along with the other covers or songs he did not write.

Aint about to Stop: Either on Hit n Run or...it's on the Hit n Run album...I guess. I'm doing this from memory, which ain't my strongest suit, sometimes. I just know that I never liked this track.

U Know: LOVED IT! When I first heard it, I thought, Prince was awesome how he could create a track this wavy that sounds so current! Then, I learned that the beat outside of the drums was produced by someone else for Jhene Aiko's sister, Mila J. If Prince had produced this one, it would have just elevated him into the pantheon of the greats, even more. Not to say that he isn't already there, cause he is.

What It Feels Like: Awesome! Love the music. Love the first couple of line--"Been Making it Rain, all around the world. What difference does it make, when a boy ain't got his girl." Love Andy Allo's part. Prince vocal gymnastics. "EEE...this is what it feels like, baby."

Soul Sanctuary: Never dug this one. The music is relaxing though. No vocal gymnastics here. Just like I said...a feeling of relaxation. It's from the Emancipation album, when he was with Mayte. Prince's mood on this one was...zzzz.

Sex Me, Sex Me Not: From either the NPG Music Club albums or something else. Again, this is from memory...don't remember this song. I sound silly, but it's pretty much telling if I don't remember it. It's not memorable.

The Word: Don't remember this one.

Time: I love it. I think it's cool the way he and Andy sing it! Long song, though. You can't just turn on a little ditty and it goes off quick like, say Horny Toad(which I love), you gotta stick with this one all the way. I think it's at least 5 minutes long. Once again, my memory...

Fiona01 said:

I love each one of these and consider them amongst his best post 90s music, but rarely if ever see them getting any love on the org and was curious how you all felt about the following songs: Ain't About 2 Stop For Me this is his most successful attempt at sounding in touch with contemporary chart music. Great production and hook. U Know Strangely hypnotic and a great flow! What It Feels Like Understated but classy. Soul Sanctuary For ages the vocals put me off this one, especially the verse near the end where he screeches, but it has started opening up to me in a major way recently and I think it could possibly be the prettiest melody he ever wrote. Sex Me, Sex Me Not Nasty Prince - great verses! The Word My favorite on 3121 and one of the few quai-religious songs of his that doesn't come across as patronising. Time One of the most Sly Stone sounding Prince songs he ever recorded. Best song on AOA by a country mile. [Edited 3/29/20 15:19pm]

I don't hear anything like Sly Stone.

slyjackson said:

mtlfan said:

Interesting observation about "Time," especially since Sly has his own track called "Time" (and another, "In Time"). I hear the influence, even though the sound is simultaneously (perhaps paradoxically) much more contemporary.

Otherwise, I don't know late period Prince as well as I should. Holes in my education.

I encourage you to fill in these holes, is there is more good stuff there than some would have you believe. Of course the beauty of the process is that you get to decide for yourself. I think there is some of his best stuff since the 80s in HnR2, AOA, and parts of 2010.

Fiona01 said:

I love each one of these and consider them amongst his best post 90s music, but rarely if ever see them getting any love on the org and was curious how you all felt about the following songs: Ain't About 2 Stop For Me this is his most successful attempt at sounding in touch with contemporary chart music. Great production and hook. U Know Strangely hypnotic and a great flow! What It Feels Like Understated but classy. Soul Sanctuary For ages the vocals put me off this one, especially the verse near the end where he screeches, but it has started opening up to me in a major way recently and I think it could possibly be the prettiest melody he ever wrote. Sex Me, Sex Me Not Nasty Prince - great verses! The Word My favorite on 3121 and one of the few quai-religious songs of his that doesn't come across as patronising. Time One of the most Sly Stone sounding Prince songs he ever recorded. Best song on AOA by a country mile. [Edited 3/29/20 15:19pm]

I really like all of the threee AOA songs, though I would say What it Feels Like is my favorite of the three. I love Prince's and Andy's voices together here.

Don't care for Ain't About 2 Stop.

Soul Sanctuary is one of my favorites on Emancipation.

Sex Me, Sex Me Not is one of my least favorites on The Chocolate Invasion album, but I do like how it continues to incredibly funky vibe and flow of the album,

I agree with you about The Word.

Time - My favourite out of the list you’ve provided. I’m not sure that his lyrics really fit with the feeling of the piece, but it’s relaxing to listen to.

U Know - My least favourite on the list. The first minute and 15 seconds I can’t stand. Everything else is fine. It’s decent. Nothing extraordinary. I do like the outro, and not because the song is finishing.. Apart from that loud ass grunt he makes a couple of times. He tryna wake the neighbours or something.

What It Feels Like - Not a fan. It lacks SOMETHING but I’m not sure what it is. It’s not extremely bad or anything, just can’t get into it. Just needed a little more oomph.

The Word - I like this one. It sounds good on the ears. The music just kind of takes over. It doesn’t feel like he’s trying to purposely shove religion down our throats, even though the whole song does preach to us about “The Word”.

Sex Me Sex Me Not - I like it. Catchy. Not something I’d go out of my way to listen to. “Everybody that came 2 see me dance jump back, watch me, I'm about to wet your pants” & “I'm about 2 do something

2 make your backbone slip” are funny af.

Soul Sanctuary - It’s good. I like. Wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to it.

Ain’t About 2 Stop - Weak lyrics, but it does sound appropriate for the time it was released. I can hear that he did put his own spin on it. I don’t think it’s good song, but it’s not 100% bad.

[Edited 3/31/20 8:42am]

Time: Amazing.

U Know: Hypnotic slow burner

What it Feels Like: Good AOA album track

The Word: my fave from 3121. Reminds me of 7

Sex Me Sex Me Not: ok

Soul Sanctuary: decent album track on Emancipation but not a highlight

Aint About to Stop: Not my taste..

donnadiavolo said:

Time - My favourite out of the list you’ve provided. I’m not sure that his lyrics really fit with the feeling of the piece, but it’s relaxing to listen to.

U Know - My least favourite on the list. The first minute and 15 seconds I can’t stand. Everything else is fine. It’s decent. Nothing extraordinary. I do like the outro, and not because the song is finishing.. Apart from that loud ass grunt he makes a couple of times. He tryna wake the neighbours or something.

What It Feels Like - Not a fan. It lacks SOMETHING but I’m not sure what it is. It’s not extremely bad or anything, just can’t get into it. Just needed a little more oomph.

The Word - I like this one. It sounds good on the ears. The music just kind of takes over. It doesn’t feel like he’s trying to purposely shove religion down our throats, even though the whole song does preach to us about “The Word”.

Sex Me Sex Me Not - I like it. Catchy. Not something I’d go out of my way to listen to. “Everybody that came 2 see me dance jump back, watch me, I'm about to wet your pants” & “I'm about 2 do something

2 make your backbone slip” are funny af.

Soul Sanctuary - It’s good. I like. Wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to it.

Ain’t About 2 Stop - Weak lyrics, but it does sound appropriate for the time it was released. I can hear that he did put his own spin on it. I don’t think it’s good song, but it’s not 100% bad.

[Edited 3/31/20 8:42am]

Tracks could be serious/heavy or light/silly, but P was always up for that word play.

"Looky here now, uh, look at my hips
I'm about 2 do somethin' 2 make ur backbone slip
Uh uh uh
And when I get thru, U'll b confused
Should U take another pill after mornin' or play the fool?"

Fiona01 said:

MattyJam said:

slyjackson said:

I don't hear anything like Sly Stone.

Those guitar fills near the end of Time are directly taken from Thank You For Talking To Me Africa.

Oh, yeah I thnk you're right.

[Edited 3/31/20 19:07pm]

Time and Soul Sanctuary are truly beautiful.

Out of curiosity, how/why did u select such a diverse mix over such a fairly narrow time period?

To answer, I love them all except "Aint About to Stop", and all for different reasons. You can keep that one but I'll take the rest.